Western appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1885-18??, 1887-04-02
MN MORIES OF THE WAR.

Last I "uesday at Harrisburg, Pa,
Con. Sim, VI Cameron celebrated his
8Sth birthda V, and received many con-
eratulations Il pom his excellent health.
Reviewing with correspondent some OF
the eventful hist, 1ry of his long pub
lie life the venerable ex-senator and ex-
Secretary of war sai>
"Of all my expert, mces with public
men and events none were so interest
ing as those which broug hit the country
to the settlement of the sla very question
on the field of battle. There was q
great deal of byplay in the beginning
that has not been heard of y ct. 1t IS
true that Gen. Robert E. Lee W as ten
dered the command of the Union army.
1t was the. wish of Mr.. Lincoln's Ad-
ministration that as many as possible
of the southern officers then in the rig
ular army should remain true to the
Nation which had educated them.
Robert E. Lee and Joseph E. Johnston
were then the leading Southern soldiers.
Johnston was Quartermaster-Gene
and Lee Colonel of cavalry.
"In the moves and counter-moves in
the game of war and peace then going
on Francis P. Blair, SE., was a prom
inent figure. The tender Of the COM
mand of our forces was made to Gen.
Lee through him. Mr.. Blair came to
me expressing the opinion that Gen.
Lee could be held to our cause by the
offer of the chief command of our
forces. I authorized Mr.. Blair to make
the offer. then dismissed the matter
from my mind as nearly rs could sue
an important subject. for l supposed
from what Mr.. Blair had said, that
zen. Lee would certainly accept. I
Ia bored under this impression up to the
tin We that his resignation was received.
VIII sther Gen. Lee ever seriously con-
slider ed the matter I do not personally
know From what Senator Blair said
to me- Vnever had any doubt at the time
hit III J., The did. My surprise was very
preat W hen the resignation vas re-
ceived an Gen. Lee went South.
..1n the movements of that sensitive
and traoic period there was much to
contend witt \. The Cabinet which Mr..
lincoln had formed WAS full of cross
nnrnoses. It was d trite saying with
Frank p blair. who afterward became
one of the volu ufeer Generals OF our
armies. that Sew vafd thought ne could
put down the Rel elAion with the frank
ing privilege, and THAT Chase regarded
the financial end of the Government as
wholly responsible +, " the grave duties
before the Nation. ! rhis wasin a great
measure true. for DO til Of them we've
cautious and we'll schoo }ed in what was
called the art of sta e-craft. They
believed in the quiet play OF statesman
ship rather than in the tn Yedy OF the
sword.
..Mr. Lincoln was the grt @test char
acter that this country has aver seen.
God made him President for Just such
an emergency as this country was call
ed upon to meet. All of his admins
tratire troubles were caused IVY the
fact that nearly half his Cabinet 1o0ked
upon him as an accident who Was only
to, last four years. At least three OF his
CO Institutional advisers were from the
be. !inning shaping their course to sue
Gee d him at the end of his first term.
Hal they sunk their ambitions in an
earnest support of him and his policy
the road would have been easier. But
war is always surrounded by such con-
ditpns. Armed conflict has it's politt-
cal sides none the less important many
times than operations on the field. 1t
was so with the early days of Mr.. Lin
coins Administration the mistakes of
which were chiefly timidity as to the
border States.
Neither Mr.. Chase nor Mr.. Seward
had faith that the War with the South
was to be serious matter, and they
were constantly dallying with that idea.
Mr.. Seward was constantly in fear that
nv administration of the War Depart
.ment would irritate the Southern peo-
%le, and Mr.. Chase that our war equip
+ II would cost too much money. In
me. IT annual report recommended
my H. '~g OF the negroes. This was a
the ARM; ~tIhan any OF the Cabinet
step 1ur TN - even think of then. 1t
were Wiling y, >pant Of the Presidents
was rejected as : I'd its publication in
annual message, o. Washington caused
the leading paper at, We wears later,
unstinted criticism. L, "a announced
however, the Administratic y. Linenln
it as part of its policy. M. VI re
and were always friends and O. his
latons continued unbroken to 4
death. / regretted the departure {
Gen. Joseph E. Johnston from the War
Department very much. Hesaw me fire.
quently during the preparations for
war, and our relations were very
friendly. l had a number of times
urged him to remain in the army and
almost argued the question with him,
but one day he came to the department.
rendered his resignation and asked me
to accept it at once. instructed the
Adjutant-G General to prepare the
neasssary papers, and it was done with